The Donut Bar in downtown Riverside, is a newer place to grab a bite, established in January 2020 by Gil Rubalcaba. According to its website, the place has one goal: to bring customers the best doughnuts in the world.
The doughnut selection varies and they are guaranteed fresh with only one master batch produced per day. Opening at 7 a.m, The Donut Bar closes at 12 p.m. or as soon as they sell out, so get in early if you want the best selection and to make sure you get a doughnut.
Speaking of selection, the full doughnut menu is available online for preorder in case you missed the one you wanted, including but not limited to creme brulee, vanilla bean, unicorn, the Krusty, the Homer, spiced chai, strawberry cheesecake, rocky road, PB&J and many more. There are also vegan options.
The selection is not the only thing that varies — so do the prices. Depending on the doughnut type, prices range from $2-7.
To quench a donut-eater’s thirst, The Donut Bar also offers beverages. There is a full espresso bar, milk options and fresh juices, and more options are available.
The aesthetic of The Donut Bar is the best part. Customers are greeted before they even enter the shop with a pink doughnut painted mural on the wall outside, perfect for photo opportunities, especially if you are waiting in line.
Once inside, red LED lights read #DonutBar and pink dripping paint wallpaper lines the doughnut display. Outside on the patio and in front of the shop, pink lights wrap around the trees to light the place up at night. Occasionally there are live performances on the patio to enjoy as you eat your treats.
If you want to take the aesthetic home with you, merchandise is available to purchase. There are hats, T-shirts, hoodies, water bottles and stickers. You can follow The Donut Bar on Instagram @donutbarriverside. They boast 16.5k followers and post videos and pictures of the doughnuts, events and updates.
If you cannot make it to the downtown Riverside location, there are many others to choose from, including Temecula, Los Angeles, Diamond Bar, Chula Vista and San Diego. The Donut Bar was even listed on Food Network as one of the 6 Best Restaurants for Guilty Pleasures, according to Food Network’s website.
Personally, as a self-proclaimed doughnuts aficionado, I think there are better tasting donuts available elsewhere. However, the Donut Bar is aesthetically unique and the atmosphere is upbeat, so I think the experience is worth it.
Try The Donut Bar yourself and see what you think, and make sure to tag #DonutBar when you take cute photographs.
